1. The Government of Ancient Rome
Rome was originally ruled by kings, but in 509 B.C. the Romans created a republic
A republic is a form of government in which citizens have the power to elect their leaders

2. The most important feature of the republic was the Senate, whose 300 members were elected by citizens to make laws & taxes

4. By the 3rd century B.C., the Romans conquered the Italian peninsula & began to exert power in the Mediterranean world
But, the growth of Rome threatened Carthage, the superpower of the Mediterranean world

5. In a series of battles known as the Punic Wars, Rome defeated Carthage & began the dominant power in the Mediterranean

6. After the Punic Wars, Rome conquered new territories & gained great wealth
One of the generals who led Rome’s expansion was a politician named Julius Caesar

7. Rome’s expansion brought wealth, but also created problems:
The addition of new lands & sources of slave labor increased the gap between the rich & poor
Generals who controlled the armies became more powerful than the politicians in the Senate
Struggles for power led to a series of civil wars in Rome

8. Many Senators feared Caesar’s popularity & power as dictator of Rome
Julius Caesar took advantage of the chaos in Rome & was named dictator in 46 B.C.
He initiated a series of reforms that offered Roman citizenship to conquered people & created new jobs
Many Senators feared Caesar’s popularity & power as dictator of Rome

9. In 44 B.C., Senators assassinated Julius Caesar

10. Caesar’s death changed Rome:
People no longer trusted the Senate to rule Rome & the Roman Republic came to an end & the empire began

11. There is another civil war between Caesar’s adopted nephew Octavian & his best general, Marc Antony

12. Octavian emerged as the unchallenged leader of Rome, was given the title Augustus (“Exalted One”), & became Rome’s first emperor
Under Augustus, Rome was ruled as an empire; the Senate still met but the emperor had all the real power
Augustus ruled Rome for 41 years

15. Augustus’ 41 year reign marked the beginning of a 207-year era of peace, wealth, & expansion known as the Pax Romana (“the Roman Peace”) from 27 B.C. to 180 A.D.
Pax Romana

16. During the Pax Romana, the empire expanded to its height & brought great wealth to Rome
During the Pax Romana, emperors continued to expand

17. Roman aqueducts brought water to cities
The Pax Romana became the “golden age” of Rome as emperors built roads & a merit-based bureaucracy to rule the empire
During the Pax Romana, emperors continued to expand
Roman aqueducts brought water to cities

18. Emperors built arenas & used chariot races, gladiator events, & theater to entertain the poor
The Roman Coliseum

19. Rome expanded from a city, to a republic, to an empire
The era of the Roman Republic introduced representative democracy
The era of the Roman Empire sparked the Pax Romana & the “golden age” of Roman innovation & culture

20. Would you rather live during the Roman Republic or the Empire?
Closure Activity
Would you rather live during the Roman Republic or the Empire?
Provide at least 3 reasons why